Improvement in postage-stamp holders



Patented June 22,1875

CQXIM HE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTO.-LITH.39&4I PARK PLACE-,KY.

Um'rnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnrnn Lo w. HALL, on em. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPRQVEMENT IN POSTAGE-STAMP HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,833, dated June 22, 1875 application filed To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHIDELLO W. HALL, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis, and in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postage-Stamp Holders; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a postage stamp holder having separate places for two or more different kinds or denominations of stamps, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

'In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will 110w proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my stampholder arranged for four different kinds or denominationsof stamps. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a holder arranged .for two kinds of stamps only. Fig. etis amodification of the stamp-holde The box of mystamp-holder is composed of two side pieces, A A, two end pieces, B B, and four lids, O G, hinged transversely across the center of the box, two forming the top and two the bottom thereof. The sides A A have inwardly-projecting flanges, a a, along their top and bottom edges, as shown. The end pieces B B are hinged each to one of the side pieces, and fastened to the other by a. suitable catch, 1). The top and bottom edges of the end pieces B are made beveled or slightly bent outward, as shown at d d. Vhen the holder is arranged for four kinds of stamps there is a transverse vertical partition, 0, dividing it into two compartments, in each of which is placed a spiral spring, D, with a plate or apron, E, on each side, said aprons being pressed by the spring against the flanges a, a. The lids C O are hinged to the central partition 0, and have suitable flanges around three sides to fit over the sides and end of the box when closed. By opening the lids and endjpieces, the stamps may be placed between the plates or aprons E and flanges a, the holding forming, as shown, places for four different kinds of stamps.

. May 11, 1875.

For removing a stamp, the proper lid 0 is opened, when the top stamp can he slid out, the bevel d of the end piece B allowing it to move outward freely, while it prevents more than one from being moved out at one time. This bevel or bend of the hinged end piece also forms a catch for holding the lid when closed. a

In Fig. 3 I have shown a stamp-holder arranged for two kinds of stamps only, which is simply one-half the size of the other.

The lids O 0 may be made sliding just as well as hinged; and when hinged they niay be hinged at one side, if desired, when the beveled pieces B must form the opposite side of the box, thus allowing the withdrawal of the stamps sidewise instead of endwise.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification of my stamp-holder, consisting in cutting 01f the outer ends of the flanges a a, leaving a space, :0, on either side for the insertion of the stamps, which obviates the necessity of havingthe end piece B hinged, but allows of the same being permanently attached to the side pieces A A, making the box more solid and durable.

In the manufacture of my stamp-holder I shall probably adopt this construction, for the additional reason that it can be made cheaper than when the end pieces are hinged and fastened with catches.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stamp-holder, the spring D and followers E E, placed one on each side of the spring, in combination with the flanges a a of the side pieces, between which they are placed, and the end piecesBB, with beveled edges 01 01, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the side pieces A A, having flanges a a, with cut-out spaces x, the end pieces B B, having beveled edges d, the lids C, springs D, and plates or aprons E, all constructed and arranged to form a holder for several difl'erent denominations of stamps, substantially as herein set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of 

